Integrated support for tools

Abstract

An integrated support for tools utilizes both round and rectangularly shaped “U” socket tool support members that can be slidably mounted on a metal strip, and displaceable supports that can be mounted on a solidly shaped strip to provide an extended support with which the strip may be supported and stabilized. The extended support may be extruded, cut, or formed in any manner. It provides a body to which the strip may be attached, provides side surfaces that include recessed surfaces to facilitate grasping, and may optionally provide an extended area magnetic base, which works well with metal tool boxes to provide a measure of stability beyond its own weight. The support may actively provide accommodative support to a plurality of strips. The support has a central opening having a pair of oppositely oriented projections at an upper end thereof, that provide an engagement surface for the strip by using a threaded member, or a threaded member in combination with a nut, positioned with the central opening and either applying a facial cutting force against the oppositely oriented projections, or a compressive force against the oppositely oriented projections or restrictions over the central opening, with respect to the engaged nut in order to rotationally fix the threaded member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A support system comprising: 
       a support having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first and a second side surface, said first and said second side surfaces having a recess to facilitate manual grasping of said support and a first and a second end surface, said upper surface including an accommodation slot having a pair of side walls and a bottom; said bottom being interrupted by an entrance slot bound by a pair of oppositely facing projections leading to a main slot, which is wider than said entrance slot;  
       a magnetic member attached to said lower surface of said support;  
       a strip secured to said support utilizing said pair of oppositely facing projections wherein said strip includes an aperture and wherein said strip is secured to said support by engagement of a threaded member inserted through said aperture of said strip and said entrance slot, with a nut residing within said main slot; and  
       tool support members for supporting tools and supported by and slidable along said strip to enable ordering of different size tools to enable a strip of tools to be independently manually carried to a work site.  
     
     
       2. The support as recited in  claim 1  wherein said support is extruded and has a constant axial profile along its length. 
     
     
       3. A support system comprising: 
       an extruded support having a constant axial profile along its length and having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first and a second side surface and a first and a second end surface, said upper surface including an accommodation slot having a pair of side walls and a bottom; said bottom being interrupted by an entrance slot bound by a pair of oppositely facing projections leading to a main slot, which is wider than said entrance slot;  
       a strip secured to said support utilizing said pair of oppositely facing projections; and  
       tool support members for supporting tools and supported by and slidable along said strip to enable ordering of different size tools, and wherein said support includes at least one side slot between said bottom of said accommodation slot and one of said pair of side walls of said accommodation slot.  
     
     
       4. The support as recited in  claim 3  wherein said strip includes an aperture and wherein said strip is secured to said support by engagement of a threaded member inserted through said aperture of said strip and said entrance slot, with a nut residing within said main slot. 
     
     
       5. The support as recited in  claim 3  wherein said strip includes a first rounded end and a second flat end and an extension adjacent said first rounded end for enabling said strip to accept a tool support member loaded from said first rounded end while said strip is supported by said support. 
     
     
       6. The support as recited in  claim 3  and further comprising a magnetic member attached to said lower surface of said support. 
     
     
       7. The support as recited in  claim 3  wherein said first and said second side surfaces are recessed to facilitate manual grasping of said support. 
     
     
       8. The support as recited in  claim 7  wherein each of said first and said second side surfaces are bound by a pair of oppositely disposed slots integral with said support to facilitate support of a planar insert having an expanse generally parallel to said side surfaces and having a pair of opposite edges for interfitting within said oppositely disposed slots. 
     
     
       9. The support as recited in  claim 8  and further comprising a message insert supported by said pair of oppositely disposed slots of one of said first and said second side surfaces and covering a portion of said one of said first and said second side surfaces. 
     
     
       10. The support as recited in  claim 3  and further comprising at least a second strip secured to said support. 
     
     
       11. The support as recited in  claim 3  wherein said support has a constant axial profile along its length. 
     
     
       12. The support as recited in  claim 3  and further comprising an end cap attached to one of said first and said second end surfaces. 
     
     
       13. The support as recited in  claim 3  and further comprising a hanger attached to one of said first and said second end surfaces. 
     
     
       14. A support system comprising: 
       a support having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first and a second side surface and a first and a second end surface, said upper surface including an accommodation slot having a pair of side walls and a bottom; said bottom being interrupted by an entrance slot bound by a pair of oppositely facing projections leading to a main slot, which is wider than said entrance slot;  
       a strip, including an aperture and secured to said support by engagement of a threaded member having threads that engage said pair of oppositely facing projections of said entrance slot; and  
       tool support members for supporting tools and supported by and slidable along said strip to enable ordering of different size tools.  
     
     
       15. The support as recited in  claim 14  wherein said strip includes an uppermost surface and wherein said aperture is at least one of chamfered or countersunk to enable said threaded member to reside below said uppermost surface such that said tool support members can remain slidably supported along said strip without obstruction by said threaded member. 
     
     
       16. The support as recited in  claim 14  and further comprising an extended area magnetic member attached to said lower surface of said support. 
     
     
       17. The support as recited in  claim 14  wherein said first and said second side surfaces are recessed to facilitate manual grasping of said support. 
     
     
       18. The support as recited in  claim 17  wherein each of said first and said second side surfaces are bound by a pair of oppositely disposed slots integral with said support to facilitate support of a planar insert having an expanse generally parallel to said side surfaces and having a pair of opposite edges for interfitting within said oppositely disposed slots.